Hike right up to a glacier

Hike just outside the city

Alaska Guided Hiking Trips & Lodges

Hiking is one of the best ways to discover what makes the Alaskan wilderness unique: fragrant forests, amazing wildlife, the sounds of nature, sublime mountain light, and a real sense of peace. And while you shouldn’t be afraid to go hiking on your own, going in a group with a guide can add a lot to the experience. Because they’re experts in their local areas, they know the best trails and the most scenic spots. And they’ll share fascinating insights about the trees, tundra, wildlife, native history, and natural history of the places you visit. You’ll come away with a much deeper understanding of how plants and animals have adapted to survive in our hostile climate. The typical group size is 3-10.

Where To Go

There are surprisingly few options for guided hiking in Alaska. Here are the good ones:

Denali Front Country.Hiking at Denali Park Village leads groups of 2-12 hikers on 3-4 hour hikes near the Denali National Park Entrance. Their hikes feature wildlife-spotting opportunities and walks along the Nenana River; you can also hike a frontier-era trail back to an old hunting cabin.

Denali - Inside the Park. Kantishna wilderness lodges, likeCamp Denali, North Face Lodge, and Kantishna Roadhouse are among the best places in Alaska for guided hiking. Their trained naturalists offer multiple hikes per day, from easy to challenging. You’ll get close-up views of Mt. McKinley from secluded trails where you usually won’t see any other groups

Small Group Land Tours. Go with a small-group escorted tour company like Alaska Wildland Adventures and you’ll have plenty of opportunities to hike. AWA offers multi-day trips with seasoned naturalist guides, nice lodging, and great food. All-inclusive packages start at about $1000 per person and are an excellent value.

Alaska Wilderness Lodges. Alaska’s full-service lodges aren’t inexpensive, but their guided hikes, personalized tours, and great access to otherwise untouched wilderness are well worth the cost. The best lodges for guided hiking: Kenai Backcountry Lodge, where you'll hike through the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge; Kenai Riverside Lodge, which offers hikes in Chugach National Forest; Camp Denali / North Face Lodge in the heart of Denali. And Kennicott Glacier Lodge is great for self-guided hikes.

McCarthy - Kennicott. The Root Glacier near this famous ghost town is a good place to take a guided glacier hike. Kennicott Wilderness Guides offers great guided hiking excursions, from single to multi-day.

Glacier View//Glacier Views • Ice Climbing • 2 hrs from Anchorage

Rock climbing is always an exciting activity—and in Alaska, you can do it surrounded by gorgeous wilderness. While you need to be in good physical shape, you don’t need to be a seasoned climber to tackle the rock-climbing routes of the Puritan Creek area. One of Alaska’s most experienced guiding companies can teach you what this sport is all about—instructing you on everything from techniques to routes, footholds to finger grabs. If you’ve ever wanted to try rock climbing, this is the perfect opportunity.

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Experience the thrill of walking or climbing on a glacier. The Matanuska is Alaska’s largest road-accessible glacier, and it’s just 90 minutes from Anchorage, so it’s an easy way to get up close and personal with these amazing natural wonders. You don’t need to be experienced in either activity—just be in good shape and up for adventure. You’ll either walk around on the glacier with crampons or learn how to use an ice axe and safely work your way up the gorgeous river of ice.

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There’s climbing a mountain – and then there’s climbing an ICE mountain. Regardless of your climbing ability or experience, you'll end the day feeling fulfilled and inspired. MICA also offers short, guided hikes and longer treks if you prefer a more leisurely explore of the glacier and its grandeur.

McCarthy//Day hikes • Multi – day hikes • Mountain & Glacier views

Experience the thrill of trying out a new sport: packrafting. Led by expert guides, you’ll leave from the town of Kennicott out to the Alaskan backcountry, then strap a raft to your back (it’s under 9 pounds) and set off on an interpretive walk down to a lake. Then unpack the raft and put in the water. You’ll learn how to use and maneuver these unique boats in Class I-II water, and even have the possibility of taking on some Class III rapids. Don’t miss this chance at a very unique opportunity.

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If you’ve never walked on a glacier, this is your chance. Going with experienced guides, you’ll leave from Kennicott, hike two miles, and spend the next several hours on the Root Glacier, safely exploring the blue ice, blue pool, canyons, and moulins of this extraordinary natural phenomenon. Choose a half- or full-day tour and learn all about natural and human history from your expert guides along the way. Or ramp up the excitement by going ice climbing on the glacier—it’s something anyone can do.

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Explore the Alaskan wilderness while carrying your pack and camping out—it’s a way to truly get in touch with nature. Choose a 1-night or 2-night trek leaving from the town of Kennicott—your expedition will be led by expert guides, who will take you on hikes that can wind past gorgeous lakes and stunning waterfalls. Work with your guide to personalize your adventure—they know the must-see highlights of this area and can fill you in on the human and natural history along the way.

Want a hands-on exploration of Denali National Park, rather than just watching the landscape glide by your tour bus window? Join a small-group hiking tour guided by the company's trained naturalists. There are three hikes to choose from; Triple Lakes Trail, Rock Creek, and Steps Through Time.

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The Denali National Park Visitors Center is actually more of a campus. The center itself is the main National Park Service welcome and information center and it is surrounded by other facilities that include a restaurant, bookstore/giftshop, bag check, bus stop and the Alaska Railroad depot.

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Juneau//Glacier views • Ice climbing • Heli-hiking

Northstar Trekking operates out of Juneau and caters to all styles of exploration. The curious glacier observer can simply fly to the glacier and snap photographs from flat or rolling terrain. You can also choose to hike on the glacier itself. If you’re very adventurous, you can even learn how to climb on the ice walls. No matter which option you choose, NorthStar Trekking will guide you all the way, making sure you get the most out of this unique opportunity.

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Don’t miss this unique opportunity to take a helicopter ride up to a glacier for a spectacular hike. Lift off from Juneau and for 15 minutes, you’ll fly over rainforest and a stunning glacial landscape. Then set down and spend the next 25 minutes walking around on the gorgeous blue ice of the famous Mendenhall Glacier. As you hike with your guide, you’ll learn all about the science of glaciers as you explore the crevasses and pools of this enormous chunk of ice. Then climb back into the chopper for your return trip and even more beautiful scenery.

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Seward//Glacier views • Possible wildlife sightings

After just a 15-minute drive, you can take a gentle hike up close to Exit Glacier and see the beautiful dense blue ice. Walk the lower trail (an easy half-mile) to get a good photo in front of the glacier face. The trail also provides access for people with disabilities.

Hiking in the Alaska wilderness—with its sometimes loose definition of trails, and the ever-present possibility of bear encounters—can intimidate a lot of travelers. This hiking tour operator, based in Anchorage, loves to take both first-time hikers and veteran explorers into the best scenery of Chugach State Park—a colorful cross-section of Alaska’s wilds, right outside the city.

Whether you take a glacier hike or a nature walk, this guiding company lets you experience the Alaska backcountry in a much richer way than you could on your own. You’ll travel to gorgeous, easily accessed mountains and glaciers outside of Anchorage and Girdwood. Ascending Path guides you to iconic Alaskan terrain—alpine ridges, snowfields, and crevasse-lined glaciers—and share natural history, personal stories, and their love of the wilderness on every trip.

Go hiking in the Alaskan wilderness, but bookend your hike with a spectacular helicopter ride. Lift off from Talkeetna for a short, scenic flight into the boreal forest around town. Then get ready to start hiking with your experienced naturalist guide. You’ll get great views of Denali, the Alaska Range, and countless mountain peaks as you walk through the alpine tundra of the South Denali area—it’s a hiker’s paradise only accessible by chopper. Then get back on board the helicopter for your scenic flight home.

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Explore Alaska on foot—take a scenic day hike into the South Denali area. Choose one of 3 great hikes; from an easy, 2-mile stroll to a moderately strenuous 5½-hour hike. You’ll get spectacular views and see plenty of wildlife as you trek with your experienced naturalist guide. Depending on the hike you may pass pristine lakes, see an old pioneer’s cabin, catch a glimpse of Mt. McKinley, and even have the chance to spot foraging bears. These hikes are a prime opportunity to get up close with Alaska’s natural beauty.

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Get a unique view of the Alaskan wilderness on a four- or seven-day backpacking trip through the backcountry. You’ll be trekking on Kesugi Ridge in Denali State Park, with magnificent views of Mt. McKinley and of course plenty of wildlife to spot along the way. Your experienced naturalist guide will be with you the whole way, cooking up great meals at your campsites. You should be fit enough to carry a pack up moderate hills, though you’ll sometimes be dropping it off for side hikes to explore secret spots with your guide.